Automatic elevator



June 4, 1940. H. E. WILLIAMS AUTOMATIC ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 51, 1938 I/VVE/V TOR. flow/mn- E. W/u. 0W3.

' Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC ELEVATORHoward E. Williams, Huntington. Park, Calif. Application January 31,1938, Serial No. 187,913

4 Claims: (01. 294-90 10 Another object, is to provide an automaticelevator which can be reversed in position so as to engage either theup-set type of pipe or pipe having collars thereon. v

Still another object is to provide anauto- 15 matic elevator of thecharacter stated in which the jaws can be quickly andeasily released,for the purpose of disengaging the pipe by means: of

' v conveniently placed plungers'.

A feature of my invention'resid'es in the novel 20 means of transferringtheloadof the pipe from the gates to the body of the elevator, andanother feature resides in the complete encircling of the pipe by thejaws while the pipe is being moved.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and theappended claims.

In the drawing: 30 Figure llis a top plan view of my elevator.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same. I I

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the elevator. Figure 4 is an end viewof the same.

5 Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I indicatesthe body of the elevator, which includes a pair of outwardly extendingears 2, 3, which receive the links (not shown) It is to be noted thatthe body I is symmetrical as 40 to a horizontal plane through theelevator, and by this construction the elevator can be reversed inposition for the purpose to be further described. I

A pair of jaws 4, 5 are pivotally mounted in 45 the body I and each jawis provided with a pipe engaging jaw which is substantiallysemi-cylindrical in form. Each of the jaws is provided with outwardlyextending hubs 6, 1 on the top and bottom thereof, which project overthe body 50 l, and a pin 8 extends through the hubs, and

the body, thus pivotally attaching the jaws to the body. The pins 8 arearranged in. alignment and are preferably substantially in alignmentwith the center line of the ears 2, 3, as shown in 55. Figures 1 and 2.

At one end, the jaws 4, 5 are provided with a tapered seat 9 forthepurpose of receiving up-set type of pipe, and the othcr'end of the jawsare not provided with a seat,so that the pipe having couplings orcollarscan be worked upon. Thus, 5

by turningthe elevator end for end, it is possible 'to work upon eitherup-set type of pipe, or the collar type. Since the body of the elevatoris symmetrical on each side of a horizontal plane,

through the'center of the elevator, this reversing 10 can beaccomplished without impairing the' strength or effectiveness; of thetool. The overlapping hubs 6,1 of the gates will transmit the load ofthe pipe directly to the body of the elevator which is designed to carrythe entire weight.

From an examination of Figures 1 and- 2, it is seen that the jaws 4, 5,when in closed position, will entirely encircle the pipe and these jawsmeet onia line at the center of the elevator, thus enabling the jaws tobe complementary in shape, and consequently, simple to cast and machine.l

The jaws are locked when encircling the pipe I by means of ablock III,which ismounted on the' body I and is yieldably pressed against a shapedseat H in each of the jaws. The block I0 is spring pressed into its seatin the jaws, and consequently, the jaws are effectively held around thepipe, and are only releasable by manually operablemeans, substantiallyof the following character:

. A pair of pins l2, l3 extend horizontally through the body of theelevator and are slidable in said body. Coil springs l4, I5 surround the5 pins I2, l3, respectively, and bear against the heads of these pins,thus yieldably pressing the pins outwardly to the position shown inFigure 2. An arm l6 extends across the back of the elevator and ispivotally attached to both of the pins" 12 and I3. The block! is securedto the center of the arm l6, and it will thus be evident that thesprings M, iii will press the block IIJ into its seat as shown in Figure2.

The block is withdrawn from its seat by pressing either of the pins l2or l3 inwardly, whereupon the jaws 4, 5 are free to swing outwardly, andrelease the pipe. A rearwardly extending finger I1 is provided on eachof the jaws 4, ,5 for the purpose of retracting the block 10, when thejaws are moving into closed position.

in Fig. 1 to hold both of the jaws in such open position and will thusprevent their accidentally closing.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An automatic elevator comprising a body, said body having a pipereceiving opening therein, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted in the body,each of said jaws being adapted and arranged to partially encircle thepipe, a lock block adapted and arranged to engage both'of the jaws inclosed position thereof, a pair of pins slidably mounted in the body, anarm mounted on the pins, said locking block being mounted on the arm,and a spring engaging each of the pins, and urging said pins outwardly,whereby the block is urged towards seated position. a

2. An automatic elevator, comprising a body, said body beingsymmetrically formed above andbelow a horizontal plane through thecenter of I the body, said body having a pipe receiving opening therein,a pair of jaws pivotally mounted in the body, each of the jaws beingadapted and arranged to partially encircle the pipe, hubs on each of thejaws projecting over the body, a pivot pin extending through the hubsand through the body, and lock means engageable with the jaws in closedposition thereof, whereby the jaws are held to encircle the work, saidlock means comprising a pair of spring pressed pins slidably mounted inthe body, and an arm attached to each of the pins and to a block,engageable with the. jaws.

3. An automatic elevator, comprising a body, said body having a pipereceiving opening therein, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted in the body,each of said jaws being adapted and arranged to partially encircle thepipe, a lock block adapted and arranged to engage both of the jaws inclosed position thereof, a pair of horizontally arranged pins slidablymounted in the body, an arm mounted on the pins with a lost-motionconnection, said lockingblock being mounted on the arm, and a springengaging each of the pins and urging said pins outwardly, whereby theblock is urged towards seated position.

4. An automatic elevator, comprising a body,

' said body having a pipe receiving opening therein,

a pair of jaws pivotally mounted in the body, each of said jaws beingadapted and arranged to partially encircle the pipe, a lock blockadapted and arranged to engage both of the jaws in closed positionthereof, a pair of horizontally arranged pins slidably mounted in thebody, said pins being arranged one-on each side of the pipe receivingopening, an arm mounted on the, pins with a lost motion connection, saidlocking block being piv-,-

otally mounted on the arm, and a spring ehgag ing each of the pins, andurging said "pins outwardly whereby the block is urged towards seatedposition. v s

HOWARD E. WILLIAMS.

